One year has gone by so fast. I have enjoyed the opportunity to get to know so many of you on a personal level. My time here has been unforgettable, and will be something that I will greatly miss. I have accepted a position with Get Travel Sports & Events as their Southern California Operations Director. I will be based in Anaheim, California.

I would like to thank everyone for making my experience here so enjoyable. Without your enthusiasm and dedication to making a positive impact as a volunteer, my time at Disney would not have been as rewarding. Your efforts as a volunteer are vital to the success of our events, and to raising money and awareness for many nonprofit organizations like the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and Special Olympics Florida. If my travels happen to bring me back to the Orlando area, I look forward to joining everyone in the future as a Disney Sports Enthusiast Volunteer. I wish everyone good health and good luck in the future!

--Michael Feathers (Disney Sports Intern, Class of 2009 – 2010)

Sports Enthusiast Volunteers Event Highlights

Muddy Buddy

On Saturday, May 8th, over 100 Sports Enthusiasts were on hand to assist with the Muddy Buddy Challenge at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. The Muddy Buddy Challenge is a unique endurance race involving running, biking, obstacles, and a teammate. At each obstacle station teammates trade off between running and biking. When the competitors finish the race course, they weren’t done yet! In order to cross the finish line, both competitors had to make the crawl together through a massive mud pit.

Sports Enthusiast volunteer efforts for the race went to benefit the Challenged Athletes Foundation. The Challenged Athletes Foundation helps promote an active lifestyle to the physically challenged. They sponsor and support several events in an effort to provide every opportunity possible for those to live a healthy and active lifestyle. www.challengedathletes.org

Danskin Triathlon

On Sunday, May 9th, 1,200 female athletes took on the challenge of the 15.6 mile triathlon at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground. The race consisted of a .5 mile swim in Bay Lake, 12 mile bike, and a 3.1 mile run. Sports Enthusiasts were there to assist with all aspects of the race, and to help raise money and awareness for The Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Their organization’s goal is to try to find a cure for breast cancer, which is the second leading cause of death among women. The Breast Cancer Research Foundation is recognized as one of the top rated cancer research organizations, and 90 percent of donations go directly to breast cancer research and awareness programs. www.bcrfcure.org

2010 Special Olympics Summer Games

It was a busy two days at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex as we played host to the 2010 Special Olympics Summer Games on May 14th and 15th. Over 2,100 athletes from across the state of Florida came to compete in a variety of sporting events. Over 1,100 Sports Enthusiast Volunteers were on hand to assist with the event from assisting in sporting events, meal services, opening, and closing ceremonies. Without the tremendous support from volunteers at the Special Olympics Summer Games, this even wouldn’t be possible.

The Special Olympics Summer Games is unique in that all volunteer efforts for the event have a direct impact for the beneficiary. Special Olympics Florida provides services to over 15,000 athletes in the state of Florida. The 2010 Special Olympics Fall Classic will be hosted at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex November 6-7. For more opportunities to volunteer with Special Olympics Florida, please visit www.specialolympicsflorida.org.

2010 Rohto Ironman 70.3 Florida

On May 16th Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground hosted the 2010 Rohto Ironman 70.3 Florida Triathlon. The 70.3 mile race consisted of a 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike and a 13.1 mile run. Over 2,000 athletes took on the grueling challenge of completing the event. The winning time for men was 3:51:18 and for the women it was 4:14:22. The day before the 70.3 mile triathlon, the inaugural Ironkids race was held at Fort Wilderness for kids ages 6-15. The distances for the race varied depending upon the age group.

Sports Enthusiast Volunteers were on hand to assist with all aspects of the race. Ironman Foundation was the beneficiary for the event and donations made to the foundation go to benefit local charities. Along with the Ironman Foundation, there were several nonprofit groups volunteering at bike and run aid stations competing for prize money for their organization. The groups were competing for the best themed aid station and the cleanest aid station. The winners were:

1st: Southwest Orlando Jewish Congregation

2nd: Girl Scout Troop 1125

3rd: South Orlando Baptist Church

Cleanest: Vista Community Church

2010 Expedition Everest Challenge

What an adventure! On Saturday, June 12, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park was host to over 3,000 participants in the 2010 Expedition Everest™ Challenge. Just after sunset, teams of two took on the exotic terrain of Disney's Animal Kingdom® Theme Park in a fun, competitive 5K adventure run with obstacles, followed by a scavenger hunt. Sports Enthusiasts were out in force supporting the runners in a variety of areas. The Snow Leopard Trust and Disney’s Worldwide Conservation Fund will share over $3,000 in donations.

Get your forks and wine glasses ready as this October Disney will unveil a new half marathon and 5K race. The 2010 Inaugural Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon will take place on Saturday night on October 2, at 10 p.m. The 13.1 Mile Race will start at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex and will finish at Epcot®. The race is paired to go along with the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival. Volunteer shifts will be opening soon for this event. The race will also have a relay component to it. A brand new 5K will also be a part of the Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend. The Mickey’s Halloween 5K will take place on Saturday, October 2 2010 at 7 a.m. The race will be held at the Magic Kingdom® Park. The Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Expo and Kid's Races will be held at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex on October 1, 2010. If you are interested in participating in the Inaugural Half Marathon and 5K please visit: DisneyWineDineRun.com!

The beneficiary for the 2010 Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon will be the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Volunteer opportunities are now available and listed on our website.

Have you Heard?

Cast your vote today for the 2011 Mickey Mouse medal for the WALT DISNEY WORLD® Marathon Weekend! The most popular design will become the medal that is awarded to all finishers on January 9, 2011! The decision is in your hands. Help us select the most magical marathon medal in the “World”.

Get Inspired!

“Good actions give strength to ourselves and inspire good actions in others.”

-Plato

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